By Victor Ahiuma-Young

Comrade Williams Akporeha is Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Delta State Council, National Treasurer of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, as well as the NUPENG Mandate Coordinator for Comrade Igwe Achese, for NLC President 2015. He spoke with Sunday Vanguard on the botched delegates conference, why Achese stepped down and the prospects for a successful election on March 12, 2015. Excerpts:

To start with,   what were the chances of Comrade Igwe Achese before he stepped down?

Comrade Achese rose from the ranks as a young refinery worker at the Port Harcourt Refinery who got involved early in the struggle for improved welfare for workers. He attained union leadership role and became an activist who not only participated in the struggle to actualize June 12 but also led workers to shut down the Port Harcourt Refinery during that impasse for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria. He became a major actor and catalyst in trade union activism and was elected Port Harcourt Zonal Chairman of NUPENG covering 11 states of the federation. His leadership style, courage and achievements at this level built workers confidence in him and had no challenges in rising to the position of Deputy National President of NUPENG and later National President. Comrade Igwe Achese has been on the driver’s seat as President of NUPENG, one of the most vibrant and radical workers union for six years now leading the fight for rights by workers in the oil and gas industry including picketing stings to stop anti labour practices in the sector and I dare say without any fear of contradiction that his leadership principles has further moved the activities of NUPENG and workers welfare to a more enviable level. Therefore, it is my conviction that apart from his exemplary leadership style, the battles he has won in the course of struggle as a foremost defender of the rights and welfare of workers had placed him shoulder high above the other contenders for the position of NLC President.

With such huge advantage   and envious credentials, why did he step down?

Okay, for those of us who had worked closely with Comrade Achese for some time now, we have come to know him as a very firm but humble personality. He is a progressive, a team player with experience, an astute achiever but never a desperado. I was therefore not surprised at his decision to step down from the Presidential race and opted to vie for one of the three Deputy President seats. By taking this decision, Comrade Achese has once again demonstrated his unwavering principle of putting service to humanity first at all times. It is not about position but about the service for workers wellbeing.

Everybody has antecedents and I can truly tell you that Comrade Igwe Achese was vying purely for patriotic reasons. But when the activities leading to the elections became murky, he took the decision to step down honourably for the interest of integrity, unity and stability of Congress.   It also very important for me to state here that Comrade Achese was a candidate of the NLC Unity Forum headed by Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, President, Comrade Mike Alugba.

Regrettably, the agreement to cede the presidency to the private sector candidate was jettisoned by some public sector union leaders even while agreements and decisions had been reached. Nonetheless, Comrade Achese humbled himself at a critical moment to ensure a united NLC and opted to contest for one the three Deputy President seats so that he can continue to be part of a unifying and progressive contributor to Congress and asked his supporters to vote Comrade Joe Ajaero for presidency.

What actually led to the aborted NLC elections as an active participant?

First of all, I must say that what happened at the venue of the NLC election was unfortunate. However, there are lessons to be learnt and, to that extent, I can also say it was good for the democratic process within Congress. So, without dwelling on this unfortunate incident, the event clearly shows that the Nigerian worker is now more politically aware and informed and can hardly be hoodwinked or short changed in a democratic electoral process and procedures. I can bet that if this incident had happened some 15 years ago, the perpetrators would have had their way undetected. I am happy that the present average Nigerian worker is very alert, committed and familiar with electoral processes.

The second thing is that the incident is a clear signal to those, whether presently or in future with clandestine intentions, that the Nigeria Labour Congress is bigger than any individual no matter how highly placed in the hierarchy.

For the record, when voting commenced on that day, some delegates observed that some ballot leaflets repeatedly had two or more slips with the name of a particular candidate. It therefore became very difficult to attribute this irregularity to any process error as they were all in favour of the same candidate. At a point, it became obvious that the process might have been skewed to favour one of the candidates. This led to the general conclusion by majority of the delegates that the process could not guarantee a fair contest. Let me also mention here that the situation got out of hand due largely to the care free attitude of the Congress handlers at the venue. So what followed was inevitable given the present level of awareness of workers as the process could at best be described as a wholesome disregard for the rules of free, fair and credible elections.

Do you have any assurance that the March 12 will be different?

It is said that once beaten, twice shy; so I believe and have hope that the rescheduled election for March 12 may be free, fair and credible for a new national leadership for NLC to emerge. However, there are issues.   Statutorily, the Nigeria Labour Congress is not just an institution but also a movement built on the fulcrum of integrity, equity and justice. Therefore, a situation where certain contestants from some Industrial Unions select delegates from only one particular region for fear of losing election is certainly not a good omen for Congress. At least, some of us noticed traces of this parochial tendency in the botched delegates’ conference. As the name suggests, it is Nigeria Labour Congress and expectedly, it is a matter of obligation for contestants from any of its affiliate unions to cross ethnic and regional boundaries in considering delegates for Congress election. I therefore use this opportunity to appeal to leadership of Congress at all levels to rise above board and arrest this dangerous trend of rowing the boat of Congress into the stormy waters of regional divide. To say the least, it smacks lack of confidence, beclouds unity and widens inner bickering.   I will also like to remind everyone that one of the dreams of the founding fathers of the Nigerian Labour Congress is that every Nigerian worker has the inalienable right to aspire and be part of the success story of Congress and not to be disenfranchised or alienated from being voted into position for reason of religion and region differences.

What is your take on the intervention by labour veterans?

First of all, I want to thank God for the life of our founding fathers like Comrade   Hassan Sumonu, our immediate past President, Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Honourable Joseph Akinlaja and others for rising up to the occasion. But let me quickly add that I would have appreciated more if their intervention came earlier because the underlying factor of rotational succession between the public and private sectors is a key issue that is still challenging the smooth transition of power in Congress and for which our past leaders have continued to look away. It can never be over stated that resolving to continue to retain leadership of Congress in one particular sector or region of the country can never strengthen Congress. Congress must be seen to reflect and demonstrate equity and justice at all times.

I am therefore hoping that before the rescheduled election on March 12th, the statesmen of Congress should deploy tact, honesty and pragmatic means to address and resolve this structural inequality in the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress once and for all.

As state NLC Chairman, do you have a word for Delta workers on the much awaited 13th month salary for 2014 promised by the governor?

Yes, Congress has been consistent on reminding Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and will continue to push for its implementation. So, let me assure the workforce that even though government has been evasive on Labour issues for some times now, I believe that the implementation of the 13th month salary for workers is one promise made that must translate to a promise kept. His Excellency Governor Uduaghan is a patriot who cannot afford not to finish strong in the hearts and minds of Delta workers.